(AQIS) formally implemented ISPM15 alongside their existing regulations with effect from 1 September 2004.  This action gives exporters a choice of treatment options to choose and is mainly for the benefit of countries that do not have ISPM15 compliant wood marking programmes in place yet. In addition to heat treatment or fumigation by Methyl Bromide (NB for 16 hours - not 24 hours as originally published in Australia's earlier fumigation notifications), wood packaging material must also be debarked. Details of the new rules are set out in AQIS Notice to Industry No 19 . (Last updated:17 August 2004). To view examples of AQIS supplier/packer declarations, (full container loads) (less than full container loads). (Last update 23 August 2004). The declarations can be completed by the Exporter as AQIS have confirmed that their reference to 'Suppliers' also meant 'Exporters'. Suppliers (i.e. the exporters) do not need to put UKWPMMP/ISPM 15 unique registration numbers on the packing declarations.  the only number that is required is a numerical to link between the declaration and the container/shipment.  The intention is for the supplier to fill out the declaration as they are the ones that AQIS will be targeting for increased surveillance/profiling if surveillance shows a problem.

We have been advised that AQIS has no quarantine concerns with packing made solely of reconstituted wood products.  Reconstituted wood products are those that no longer contain solid wood as a result of the manufacturing process and include particleboard, chipboard, masonite, oriented strand board, medium and high density fibreboard.   AQIS have published the following Public Quarantine Alerts which wood packaging manufacturers and exporters using packaging materials made from processed wood products should familiarise themselves with -

PQA0389 - Importation of peeler cores as packaging or dunnage
PQA0390 - Amended import conditions for panel products
PQA0404 - Changed import requirements for packing made solely from reconstituted wood products (includes particleboard, chipboard, masonite, oriented strand board (OSB), medium and high density fibreboard).

All of these PQA's can be viewed on AQIS's site.

Packing material made of newly manufactured plywood

Note: AQIS commenced a review of import requirements for plywood in late 2004.  Until this review is completed, plywood will continue to be a quarantine concern.

Packing material made of plywood is acceptable for facilitated quarantine clearance, that is without inspection or further treatment, provided the plywood is newly manufactured (ie not pre-used), is manufactured in: Australia, Canada, Europe, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom or USA within three months of shipment; or countries other than those above, within 21 days of shipment, and in every case, accompanied by an acceptable certificate that includes the country of manufacture, the date of manufacture and a statement that the plywood has not been pre-used (see Appendix VII for an example of an acceptable newly manufactured plywood certificate).

Alternatively, packing material made of either new or pre-used plywood may qualify for facilitated clearance if treated offshore by an AQIS approved method (refer Appendices I, II and III).  Acceptable treatment certificates must accompany such consignments.

Upon arrival, packing material made of plywood that does not meet the newly manufactured requirements above or has not been appropriately treated offshore will be subject to inspection, treatment (refer Appendices II and III), re-export or destruction with all options at the importer's expense.
Import conditions for bulk imports of plywood are provided in the AQIS Import Conditions database ICON.Full details of the above guidance can be viewed in AQIS's Cargo Containers - Quarantine aspects and procedures manual which is updated on a regular basis.

(updated 3rd February 2005)

Phase 1 September 16:  Canada will refuse entry on shipments found to have infested wood packaging (during this preliminary period, only signs of infestation would prevent entry of shipments) with the exception of ship's dunnage.  Ship's dunnage will be treated or disposed if non-compliant  (i.e. with signs of living pests, or no ISPM15 mark, or no Phytosanitary Certificate).

Phase 2  February 1, 2006: Canada will refuse entry for any wood packaging found to be non-compliant (i.e. with signs of living pests, or no ISPM15 mark, or no Phytosanitary Certificate) with the exception of ship's dunnage.  Ship's dunnage will be treated or disposed if non-compliant.

Phase 3 July 1, 2006: Canada will refuse entry on all wood packaging materials including ship's dunnage found to be non-compliant.
 
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Directive D-98-08 (5th Revision) will be updated soon. To view the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Q & A

Canada announces new timber import requirements

Some exporters, however, have reported problems in getting shipments cleared without a phytosanitary certificate and it seems that it may take some time for all port officials to become familiar with this rule change. We have therefore decided that we will continue to issue certificates where we are requested to do so even though it is not our normal practice to issue certificates where these are not required by the importing country. We will keep this under review and would appreciate feedback from exporters.

China continues to encourage exporters to use the 'Declaration of use of non wood packaging material'.

Phytosanitary Certificate not required from immediate effect, Please read information above.

EU
From 1 March 2005 new landing requirements apply for wood, wood products and wooden packaging material arriving in the European Community from all countries, except Switzerland. The landing requirement does not apply to wood, wood products and wooden packaging material which is simply moving from one EU member State to another. Additionally there is no phytosanitary certificate requirement for wooden packaging material arriving in the EC , which is ISPM15 compliant as the certification is provided via the ISPM15 wood mark.

The new rules, which are set out in Council Directive 2004/102/EC, will be incorporated into our national legislation as quickly as possible, once the final implementing details are agreed in Brussels.

For most wood products, the existing requirements will continue to apply. New treatment options, such as heat treatment for all conifer wood, regardless of country of origin, have been agreed AND THESE WILL BE ACCEPTED in Great Britain from 1 March.

More detailed information regarding the new treatment options as provided in the 'Wood Package' summary note (issued December 2003) can be viewed by clicking here

Wood packaging material (WPM) will also be affected following EU implementation of ISPM 15 on 1 March. From that date, all WPM, such as boxes, crates, pallets, which are made using any unmanufactured wood products, MUST meet the new requirements and be either heat treated or fumigated with Methyl bromide under an officially approved programme and carry the internationally agreed mark. WPM comprised entirely of manufactured wood products such as plywood, particle board, oriented strand board or similar is EXEMPT, and need not be treated or marked.

Note: the requirement in Directive 2004/102/EC that all WPM must be made from debarked wood has been suspended for one year ie until 1st March 2006 and WILL NOT therefore be enforced. Directive 2005/15/EC dated 28th February 2004 provides details of this amendment.
Emergency measures: In the meantime the emergency measures covering WPM from Canada, China, Japan and the USA will remain in place, pending review. This means coniferous WPM from these countries must be heat treated, chemically pressure impregnated or Methyl bromide fumigated and marked (and from China, only, be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate). In addition, non-coniferous WPM from China must be EITHER bark-free and free of insect bore holes > 3 mm across OR kiln-dried.

For all WPM manufactured after 28 February 2005, the mark must also include the IPPC1 logo -



1 IPPC - International Plant Protection Convention, FAO Rome

For WPM manufactured before that date, and until 31 December 2007, the mark need only contain the country code, the producer code and the treatment code. After 1 January 2008, all WPM will need to have the full ISPM 15 mark, including the IPPC logo

Dunnage 
From 1 March 2005, and until 31 December 2007, all dunnage must either be bark-free, free of pests and signs of live pests OR be heat treated or fumigated with Methyl bromide and carry the ISPM 15 mark incorporating the country code, the producer code and the treatment code. For treated and marked dunnage there is no requirement for the wood to be debarked until 1 March 2006. After 1 January 2008, all dunnage will need to have the full ISPM 15 mark, including the IPPC logo

This information is correct at the time of publication and will be updated as required. (Updated 3rd March 2005).

Guyana
The relevant authority has advised that it has implemented ISPM15. Unfortunately we are unable to publish any official document as the notification was made by email to the Forestry Commission.

Phytosanitary Certificate not required

India has published details of its implementation of ISPM15 and landing requirements for wood packaging material w.e.f. 1st November 2004 (see attached Web page)

Japan has announced that it will implement ISPM15 on 1 April 2007. To view the WTO notification.  To view details in MAFF Notification No. 1352.  Further information can be viewed on Japan's website.

Following consultation, New Zealand has amended its import requirements for wood packaging material from 1 May 2006. These are set out in their revised Import Health Standard. All WPM produced under the UK's Wood Packaging Material is bark-free and that treated by fumigation is treated to the 24 hour treatment specification recently adopted by the Commission for Phytosanitary Measures and thus meets New Zealand's requirements. (last updated 17 May 2006)

We have also received email correspondence dated from the Nigeria Plant Quarantine Service stating -

'All wood packaging and dunnage must be marked with IPPC logo and be accompanied with certificate of treatment. In the absence of IPPC logo and certificate of treatment it must then be accompanied with phytosanitary certificate issued by Plant Protection Organisation of exporting country'.

We have requested details of the information to be included in the treatment certificate ie will a fumigation certificate or Certificate of Conformity suffice and as soon as we receive a response from the Nigeria Plant Quarantine Service we will publish it on our website.

Please therefore continue to monitor this website.

Even though Nigeria have not submitted a WTO Notification advising of their intent to implement ISPM15 we would recommend that exporters comply with the requirements of the attached announced to ensure that their goods are not delayed or intercepted by the Nigerian Authorities. We have advised the EC of the details of this announcement and requested that Nigeria submit a WTO Notification immediately and we will report on the outcome of this action. Please continue to monitor this website for updates.

Syria
The relevant authority has advised that it has implemented ISPM15. Unfortunately we are unable to publish any official document as the notification was made by email to the Forestry Commission.

The USA's Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced on 15th September 2005 that it had conducted a special operation during the month of July 2005 to determine the baseline level of wood packaging material (WPM) compliance with ISPM15. Based on examination results, CBP will perform phased-in compliance enforcement of the USDA WPM regulation. Details of the phased-in compliance can be viewed in the CBP's Operating Procedures for Trade Community Regarding Implementation of the Wood Packaging Materials (WPM) Regulation

More information will be made available from the USDA during the months of September and October or via the CBPs website

APHIS in cooperation with CBP will begin enforcing phase two of the wood packaging material (WPM ) regulation beginning Feb. 1. During the phase, APHIS and CBP will require that all commodity imports entering or transiting the United States with WPM consisting of pallets and crates be either heat treated or fumigated with methyl bromide. The shipments must also be marked with an approved international logo, certifying that the WPM has been appropriately treated. WPM that does not meet these requirements will not be allowed to enter into the United States and will be re-exported.

Shipments containing WPM that violate the rule may be allowed entry only if the CBP port director determines that it is possible to separate the approved material from the noncompliant portion of the shipment. Arrangements to have the noncompliant WPM exported from the United States would be required before the approved cargo can be released to the consignee. All costs associated with this process are the responsibility of the importer.

This phase of enforcement will continue through July 4. Full enforcement of the WPM regulation will begin July 5. At that time, all WPM must meet the import requirements and be free of timber pests before entering or transiting through the United States.